National Semiconductor's energy-efficient products enable safer cars with better fuel efficiency. The series of innovative, energy-efficient products enable emerging automotive applications in LED lighting, powertrain, safety and infotainment systems.

National’s temperature sensors, data converters, audio and operational amplifiers (op amps), as well as power management and interface circuits, address the need for reliability and precision with high temperature environments and wide operating voltage ranges.

Devices with the letter Q in the name conform to the Automotive Electronics Council’s AEC-Q100 reliability specification, a manufacturing flow that requires extended testing and screening. All the products help electronic system designers develop safer cars with better fuel efficiency and provide the driver with comfort and convenience.

More information on National’s automotive system: www.national.com/analog/automotive.

National Semiconductor LM26003 switching regulator

To prevent severe battery drain when a car is parked for extended periods of time, National’s LM26003 switching regulator features a low-current sleep mode to maintain efficiency under light-load conditions and current-mode control for accurate regulation over a wide input voltage range of 4.0V to 38V. Available in a 20-pin TSSOP package, the LM26003 switching regulator is priced at $3.90 each in 1,000-unit quantities.

More information: http://www.national.com/pf/LM/26003.html.

National Semiconductor PowerWise LM5118 DC-DC regulator controller

For powering automotive systems where the supply can vary both above and below the output voltage, National’s PowerWise LM5118 DC-DC regulator controller features a unique buck-boost control that ensures seamless control from the electronic modules even when battery voltage falls momentarily down from 4V. Available in a 20-pin thermally enhanced TSSOP package, the LM5118 is priced at $2.92 each in 1,000-unit quantities.

More information: http://www.national.com/pf/LM/LM5118.html

National Semiconductor PowerWise LED drivers

LED (light-emitting diode) lighting in cars is becoming widespread, improving fuel economy due to better luminous efficiency than incandescent and fluorescent bulbs. LEDs are environmentally friendly due to fewer hazardous materials and last longer.

National’s family of PowerWise LED drivers power 1W to 5W high-brightness LEDs. These LED drivers provide a wide input voltage range, constant current to regulate LED brightness, a low-feedback voltage to minimize power dissipation and zero shutdown current to maximize efficiency. Dimming, protection and thermal control features are suitable for a wide range of lighting applications.

For exterior lighting such as headlights, day time running lights, fog lights and rear combination lamps as well as interior lighting such as dome lighting and instrumentation, National’s PowerWise LM3421 and LM3423 high-voltage LED drivers drive three or more LEDs per string. Offered in a small TSSOP package, the LM3421 is priced at $1.55 each and the LM3423 is $1.75 in 1,000-unit quantities.

More information: http://www.national.com/pf/LM/LM3421.html and http://www.national.com/pf/LM/LM3423.html.

For space-critical infotainment backlighting, National’s PowerWise LM3431 3-channel, constant-current LED driver includes an integrated boost controller and features dimming frequencies up to 25 kHz with a contrast ratio of 100:1.The LM3431 in a 28-pin TSSOP package is priced at $2.05 each in 1,000-unit quantities.

More information: http://www.national.com/pf/LM/3431.html.

National also offers a range of op amps and thermal management systems that monitor lighting systems to ensure reliability and robustness.

National Semiconductor LM95172Q digital temperature sensor

Under-the-hood automotive electronic control systems demand the highest thermal performance from electronic systems at temperatures beyond 150ºC. National’s PowerWise LM95172Q digital temperature sensor monitors automotive system temperature up to 175ºC and delivers +/- 1ºC accuracy between 130ºC and 160ºC. The device meets AEC-Q100 Grade 0 qualification requirements.

The LM95172Q’s pinpoint accuracy at high temperatures permits lower system guard bands. System engineers now can develop a reliable electronic control unit (ECU) that consistently runs at higher temperatures, allowing for optimal oil viscosity, smaller system form factor and lower weight. These elements enable increased fuel efficiency.

Packaged in die form for mounting on hybrid circuit boards, the LM95172Q is priced at $1.25 each in 1,000-unit quantities.

More information: http://www.national.com/pf/LM/LM95172Q.html.

For controlling fuel injection performance, National’s new LMP8601Q 60V current sensing amp offers guaranteed temperature coefficients of 100% test (from -40ºC to 125ºC). Available in an 8-pin SOIC narrow package, the LMP8601Q is priced at $1.96 each in 1,000-unit quantities.

More information:  http://www.national.com/pf/LM/LMP8601Q.html.

Infotainment systems

Infotainment systems continue to evolve with the convergence of multiple audio and video streams, camera imaging systems and navigation into a single system that includes real-time road and driver alerts.

National’s DS90UR124Q and DS90UR241Q serializer/deserializers (SerDes) and low-jitter crosspoint switches provide an efficient and cost-effective way to route and switch video content to single or multiple displays in the driver and passenger compartments.

Combined with National’s LM49350 and LM49370 Boomer audio amplifier subsystems, the DS90UR124Q and DS90UR421Q deliver audio and video over a single high-speed LVDS lane, thereby minimizing cables and weight while improving the ease of design and the ability to drive cables up to 10 metres. Available in a 64-pin and 48-pin TQFP package respectively, the DS90UR124Q and DS90UR241Q are priced at $5.30 each in 1,000-unit quantities.They are AEC-Q100 Grade 2 qualified for operation between -40ºC and 105ºC.

More information: http://www.national.com/pf/DS90UR124Q.html and http://www.national.com/pf/DS90UR241Q.html.

National Semiconductor LM48100Q single-supply, mono bridge-tied load amplifier

Safety combined with convenience is as a top feature among automotive customers. Multiple systems work together to alert the driver of potential road hazards. The LM48100Q single-supply, mono bridge-tied load amplifier with I2C-compatible volume control amplifies warning and alert tones in these automobile driver warning systems. This Boomer audio power amplifier is AEC-Q100 Grade 2 qualified and includes a comprehensive output fault detection system that senses the load conditions, protecting the device during short circuit events, as well as detecting open circuit conditions.

Operating from a single 5V supply, the LM48100Q delivers 1.3W of continuous output power to an 8-Ohm load with less than 1% total harmonic distortion plus noise (THD+N). Available in a 14-pin TSSOP package, the LM48100Q audio power amplifier is priced at $1.50 each in 1,000-unit quantities.

More information: http://www.national.com/pf/LM48100Q.html.